Phillies Notebook: Marsh returns, but Schwarber scratched

Brandon Marsh returns to the Phillies' lineup. | Photo: Jim Swington

Brandon Marsh made his return to the Phillies' lineup on Wednesday, marking his comeback just 33 days following arthroscopic debridement surgery on his left knee. His presence was felt immediately as he confidently took two at-bats and showcased his agility in left field, making a notable play right at the start of the game. 

However, the team faced a setback as Kyle Schwarber was scratched from Wednesday's game due to tightness in his right groin, a development that warrants close attention. Although he participated in batting practice, Schwarber experienced discomfort afterward in the weight room, prompting a precautionary decision by Thomson to rest him further on Thursday if any issues persisted. 

 Looking ahead, after Ranger Suarez's outing on Thursday, Cristopher Sanchez is set to take the mound against the Astros in West Palm Beach on Friday. Sanchez's opportunities have been limited, having appeared in only one game due to an intervening illness.

 Meanwhile, Taijuan Walker is scheduled to participate in a simulated game in Clearwater on Friday, aiming to refine his form. In his first spring training start last Saturday, Walker's velocity ranged between 88 to 90, falling short of expectations. 

He attributed this to the timing of the season and his disrupted preparation, which included a personal absence during camp followed by right knee soreness. Walker's progress will be closely monitored in the remaining preseason starts as the Phillies prepare to break camp.

On Wednesday, Johan Rojas struggled again at the plate, going 0-for-2 and bringing his spring batting average to .152 with a .394 OPS. The Phillies have contended that he has to earn the job, and to this point, it's safe to wonder if he'll open the year with the big league club. 

In other news, right-hander Dylan Covey is set to begin the season on the injured list due to a shoulder injury, sidelining him from contention for the bullpen's long-man role. Meanwhile, right-hander Michael Rucker has been sidelined since March 1st due to numbness in his right middle finger. He underwent testing in Philadelphia on Wednesday to determine the extent of the issue. 

Rucker, who was vying for one of the team's final bullpen spots, now faces uncertainty regarding his availability for the upcoming season.

Spring Breakout

The inaugural Spring Breakout event begins tonight with two highly anticipated games. 

Over four days, 72 of MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects and two-thirds of each team's Top 30 prospects will compete. All 16 games will be broadcast live on MLB Network, MLB Digital platforms, and regional sports networks. 

On Saturday, the Tigers will host the Phillies at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland at 1:05pm.

Notable Philadelphia prospects scheduled to participate include Aidan Miller, Justin Crawford, Starlyn Caba, Devin Saltiban, Bryan Rincon, Eduardo Tait, Gabriel Rincones, and Mick Abel, who ranks 49th on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 list.